Letters

Cash that comes with questions

Since 2001, we have built a business from scratch that now provides employment for nine people. We have taken significant personal risks to provide funds to grow the business (including remortgaging our home). We have taken these risks and made these sacrifices in the expectation of significant financial reward when we come to sell our business.

But now, thanks to Mr Darling (Pre-budget report, October 10), we face an 80% increase in our capital gains liability when we sell the company. Entrepreneurism is about risk and reward. Tax away our rewards and we'll walk away from the risks and thus deprive the UK economy of the significant contribution that small businesses make to the creation of jobs and wealth in this country.Martin Moxham Managing director, iRegulatory

As the managing director of a small private manufacturing business, I am horrified at the 8% hike in capital gains tax. We have resisted overtures for us to sell from several larger companies, as we knew that it would result in job losses because the buying companies would move production to China.

We are now faced with the prospect of our retirement income being reduced by 8.9% purely because big business was exploiting taper relief to their own benefit. To stand still we would need to increase our potential sale price by 9.75%, which looks highly improbable.

This hike leaves us feeling let down by a government that introduced the relief to encourage businesses like ours. My gut reaction is to try and sell the business now, but this could leave over 30 people jobless.John BrasseyManaging director, Instanta Ltd

We all welcome the improved benefits for Britain's families announced by Alistair Darling (Darling pledges more spending on health, education and aid, October 10). But anyone working on the frontline with people living in poverty will know that if we are to help those in greatest need, it is essential we increase access to the funds they are entitled to. Thirteen million people in the UK are living below the poverty line. Yet £8bn in income-related benefits goes unclaimed every year.

Our website, www.turn2us.org.uk, launched today, aims to help connect those in financial need with all the benefits they are entitled to.Jolanta LasotaChief executive, turn2us

The chancellor's settlement for health may at last mean that long neglected categories of patient may now get more choice and empowerment. For example, people with mental illness may get improved access to "talking therapies" and people coming to the end of their life may get more choice about their care and about where to die.

As the Picker Institute's recent analysis of trends in patients' experience suggested, professional attitudes and practice need to change, to engage patients in shared decisions. Ara Darzi's recent report supported these changes, calling for choice to be "embedded" across NHS care. As a first step the government itself could go further by establishing a coherent new approach to choice in healthcare and creating national guarantees of patients' entitlement to these key choices.Angela CoulterChief executive, The Picker Institute

Why does Labour's doubling of the inheritance tax threshold only apply to married couples? What about divorced people who are in relationships but have not remarried - why should they and their children not benefit too? Is it meant to be a morality tax?William HumbleLondon

Given that 75% of eight year olds said they were worried about climate change (according to a recent Friends of the Earth survey), I suggest young people are more concerned to inherit hope for the future, rather than tax-free perks.

The government, rather than raising the inheritance tax threshold, should use the extra income to invest in areas such as renewable energy, thus protecting our common inheritance - this planet. Caroline MolloyLondon